Contract Machine Learning Startup Jobs in California

Ema is building the world’s leading Agentic AI platform to transform enterprise productivity. We enable organizations to delegate repetitive tasks to Ema, the Universal AI Employee, delivering 10x gains in workforce efficiency, across functions. Founded by former executives from Google, Coinbase, Flipkart, and Okta, our team includes engineers from premier tech companies and graduates of Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, CMU, and IITs.

We are backed by industry leading investors including Accel, Naspers/Prosus, Section32, and angels like Sheryl Sandberg and Dustin Moskovitz. Headquartered in Silicon Valley and with offices in London, Bangalore and Vancouver and Bangalore, Ema is at the frontier of what Agentic AI can do in production — we ship real systems that run real business processes at scale.

Who You Are

We're looking for innovative and passionate Machine Learning Engineers to join our team. You are someone who loves solving complex problems, enjoys the challenges of working with huge data sets, and has a knack for turning theoretical concepts into practical, scalable solutions. You are a strong team player but also thrive in autonomous environments where your ideas can make a significant impact. You love utilizing machine learning techniques to push the boundaries of what is possible within the realm of Natural Language Processing, Information Retrieval and related spaces. Most importantly, you are excited to be part of a mission-oriented high-growth startup that can create a lasting impact.

You Will

• Conceptualize, develop, and deploy machine learning models that underpin our NLP, retrieval, ranking, reasoning, dialog and code-generation systems.

• Implement advanced machine learning algorithms, such as Transformer-based models, reinforcement learning, ensemble learning, and agent-based systems to continually improve the performance of our AI systems.

• Process and analyze large, complex datasets (structured, semi-structured, and unstructured), and use your findings to inform the development of our models.

• Work across the complete lifecycle of ML model development, including problem definition, data exploration, feature engineering, model training, validation, and deployment.

• Implement A/B testing and other statistical methods to validate the effectiveness of models. Ensure the integrity and robustness of ML solutions by developing automated testing and validation processes.

• Clearly communicate the technical workings and benefits of ML models to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, facilitating understanding and adoption.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.

• At least 2 years of industry experience in building and deploying production-level machine learning models.

• Deep understanding and practical experience with NLP techniques and frameworks, including training and inference of large language models.

• Deep understanding of any of retrieval, ranking, reinforcement learning, and agent-based systems and experience in how to build them for large systems.

• Proficiency in Python and experience with ML libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.

Ideally, You'd Have

• Excellent skills in data processing (SQL, ETL, data warehousing) and experience working with large-scale data systems.

• Experience with machine learning model lifecycle management tools, and an understanding of MLOps principles and best practices.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms like GCP or Azure.

• Familiarity with the latest industry and academic trends in machine learning and AI, and the ability to apply this knowledge to practical projects.

• Good understanding of software development principles, data structures, and algorithms.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a strong capacity for logical thinking.

• The ability to work collaboratively in an extremely fast-paced, startup environment.

For California Based Candidates

The standard base salary for this position is $135,000 to $200,000 annually.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for variable compensation, equity, and benefits.

Ema Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetics.